MILWAUKEE — Seeking a scoring threat and willing to take on a significant contract, the Bucks acquired forward Corey Maggette in a trade with the Warriors on Tuesday.
The Bucks also got a second- round draft pick from the Warriors, giving up guard Charlie Bell and center Dan Gadzuric in return.
Maggette played in 70 games with 49 starts for Golden State last season, averaging 19.8 points per game. He will be expected to provide offense for a team that might lose John Salmons, who can opt out of his contract and become a free agent.
Maggette, an 11-year veteran, ranked 19th in the league in field- goal percentage (.516) last season and had the league’s highest scoring average for a player who logged fewer than 30 minutes per game. He has three years and approximately $31 million remaining on his contract.
Bell played in 71 games with 39 starts for Milwaukee last season, averaging 6.5 points, 1.5 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game. Gadzuric appeared in 32 games with six starts, and averaged 2.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game.
Durant seeks extension
OKLAHOMA CITY — Kevin Durant, the NBA’s scoring champion from last season at 30.1 points a game, will get an opportunity to negotiate an extension with the Thunder on July 1, and he’s looking forward to signing on the dotted line.
“I hope it happens, man. I’m really emphasizing how much I really enjoy playing for the Oklahoma City team and playing for that city,” Durant said. “Hopefully something gets done. I work hard and hopefully things start to pan out for me. We’ll see what happens on July 1.”
Griffin working at full strength
NEW YORK — When Clippers forward Blake Griffin was out last season, he found inspiration in the one thing he couldn’t do: play basketball.
“I’ve had a chance to watch up close and personal and see how they do things,” he said. “Now I get to actually go through with it.”
Griffin injured his left kneecap in the Clippers’ final exhibition game last year and missed the entire regular season. He had surgery in January. Now healthy, Griffin said he has been working out at 100 percent for about a month and a half.
“I’ve shaken up some of the rust and gotten some of the rhythm back,” he said. “I feel better.”
Griffin said he will not play in the NBA summer league. He will, however, practice with the team in Las Vegas.
Thomas wants to return
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tyrus Thomas said he wants to sign a long-term deal with the Bobcats, who acquired him from Chicago in a trade deadline deal in February.
“Most definitely, that’s my goal,” Thomas said. “We’ll see what happens in the next couple of weeks.”
General manager Rod Higgins said this month that the Bobcats will likely offer the 6-foot-10 power forward a one-year qualifying offer worth a little over $6 million to make him a restricted free agent.
Thomas averaged 10.1 points and 6.1 rebounds in 25 regular-season games with Charlotte.
Footnotes.
Lakers center Andrew Bynum’s knee was drained for the third time in recent weeks, and the 7-footer will have surgery next month to repair a partially torn ligament.
• Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva faces a charge of domestic assault after a May 19 incident in Burlington, Ontario.
The Associated Press
